Italy see off spirited challenge from England to win the match
England and Italy players contest a high ball during the group D World Cup soccer match between England and Italy at the Arena da Amazonia in Manaus, Brazil (Photo: AP)
Manaus : Italy kicked off their World Cup 2014 campaign in style by beating England 2-1 at Arena Amazonia in Manaus. Marchiso and Balotelli scored the goals for the winning side , while Sturridge scored for England. In the earlier match in same group Costa Rica had defeated Uruguay 3-1. Italians had the major posession in the match as they controlled possession England attacked and created more chances but Sirigu did well in the italian goal to deny England any more goals. It was Mario Balotelli's header that proved to be the difference between both the teams and Italy walk away with three points.
- 3rd min: England has the first shot on the goal Raheem Sterling shoots from 30 yards which hits side netting
- 5th min: Sirigu makes great save Henderson picks the ball from edge of the box and shoots to keepers left hand side which the keeper gets strong hand on the ball
- 11th min: Welbeck takes a shot at goal but the ball goes wide of the goal. Italians have had major share in posession while England have been creating chances putting pressure on Italian defence.
- 22nd min : Chance for England as Sterling delivers a low cross from right but Sturridge fails to reach to the cross
- 24th min: Welbeck breaks down the right flank before delivering a low cross which was cleared by Barzagli inside the box
- 31st min: half an hour have gone by still both the team have failed to break the deadlock. England has been running hard and creating
- 35th min : Claudio Marchisio scores for Italy Andrea Pirlo with the dummy run . Marchisio had all teh time in teh world to set himself for the shot which he despatched it to the bottom right corner with England goalkeeper Joe Hart getting no chance to stop it
- 37th min : Daniel Sturridge scores the equaliser Wayne Rooney delivers a beautiful cross from right hand side and for liverpool strioker to nod the ball into Italy's goal
- 45 +2 min : Jagielka clears the ball off the line as Balotelli chips the ball over stranded goalkeeper Joe Hart
- 45+ 3 min : Candreva shoots only to see the ball hitting the goalpost and going away from the goal.
- The entertaining first half comes to an end England have just managed to hold on to the scoreline after late surge by Italians. Sturridge cancelled out Marchisio's opening strike. Italians had lot of ball posession, Candreva and Balotelli also came close to scoring in the final few minutes of first half but luck favoured England.
England kick off second half
- 49th min : Chance for England as Sturridge shot palmed away for corner by Sirigu
- 50th min: Balotelli scores with a header to give Italy the lead Candreva breaks down the right hand side and excellentely dummis Baines before sending a a cross at far post for Balotelli to head home
- 57th min : Italy make their first change Thiago Motta coming in for Marco Verrati
- 60th min : England makes first change Ross Barkley comes in for Danny Welbeck
- 61st min : Another chance goes beginning for England as Rooney fails to score. He stays onside and cuts in towards his right foot onlyu to shoot wide of the goal
- 63rd min: Ross Barkley bends a shot towards bottom right corner which was palmed away by Italian goalkeeper Sirigu
- 72nd min: Italy Make change Ciro Immobile coming in for Mario Balotelli, England also make change Jack Wilshere replacing Jordan Henderson
- 75th min : Baines freekick was palmed away by Sirigu who is having an outstanding match so far
- 78th min : Italy Substitution Parolo comin in for Candreva , England bring in Lallana for Sturridge
- 90+2 min : Sterling receives yellow card
( Source : dc correspondent )
Next Story
